Amazing Two Headed Snake
A two headed snake is a polycephaletic reptile. It is an amazing creature.
Polycephaly is a condition of having more than one head.The phenomenon is called axial bifurcation.Abnormality occurs when an embryo is damage in the womb.A lesion can form causing some parts to develop in duplicates.
While most people have a fear of snakes, our very aversion is what draws us to them.We are curious and fascinated,transfixed and rendered immobile like their prey. A primeval terror and awe arises in us for a creature that have existed before man millions of years ago or since the beginning of time if you believe the story in the Bible.
Hyphalosaurus "submerged lizard' was a freshwater aquatic reptile living during the early Cretaceous period about 122 million years ago. A well preserved fossil found in the Yixian geological formation in Liaoning province,China shows a specimen with two heads making it the oldest known case of polycephaly.
A two headed albino California King snake in a Ukraine Zoo and a two headed Python in a pet shop in Germany have acquired celebrity stature recently and are attracting world wide attention.
Amazing facts about two headed snakes
Although two headed snakes are a rarity, they do exist and are actually more common than other two headed animals.We can find them on display at zoos, in traveling side shows or preserved as specimens in museums.
There is speculation that inbreeding in captivity increases the chances of a two- headed birth.Some people interbred them in hopes of producing two headed offspring for pecuniary compensation.
A two headed rat snake named "We" was once put up for auction in eBay and got a bid of $150,000. But the site's policy against the auction of live animals prevented the sale from going through."We" was eventually adopted by a pharmaceutical company doing research in snake venom.
Because of their misshapen body they are more vulnerable in the wilds Two headed snakes have a better chance of surviving in captivity where special precautions are taken to insure their safety and prevent it from harming itself.
Some have been reported to live a full life and even reproduced normal off springs."We" was able to live for eight years and another two headed rat snake with separate throats and stomach survived for 20 years. A two headed King snake live for nearly 17 years in the Arizona State University. Without proper care most two headed snakes live only for a few months.
The saying that "Two heads are better than one" do not apply to snakes with two heads.The body cavity of a two headed snake may contain organs no different from one headed snakes like having one heart or digestive tube. But having two functional brains that act independently from each other would obviously create behavioral and coordination problems.
If both heads were to eat simultaneously, food could get lodged in the esophagus causing the snake to suffocate. Since snakes hunt through their sense of smell,the two heads may attack and even attempt to swallow each other if one happens to have food in their mouth.
Two headed snakes also appear disoriented and move in a dizzy fashion zigzagging without a clear indication of where it is going.The two heads may also try to pull themselves apart as each decides to go in a different direction.
Two Headed Snakes in Symbolism
These amazing two headed snakes are rich in symbolism. Used in many traditions and cultures, it's meanings may vary.The more common are change,fertility,wisdom, creation,rebirth and healing as seen in the physician's symbol Caduceus.
In Germanic culture it was also used as a symbol of war and tyranny,basically that if you cut off one head it could still survive to reign anew.
In ancient China a two headed snake was considered a bad omen. It was believed that a person who saw a two headed snake would soon meet his death
Snake charmers hit pay dirt because of Two Headed Snake superstition
Snake charmers in a local village in Madhya Pradesh,India who are adept at catching snakes are cashing in on demands for two-headed snakes. The rare species is being push to the verge of extinction.Buyers pay as much as 10 to 50 thousand dollars for a fully develop snake (about 3.5 kg).Most of the buyers are "tantriks" who perform black magic.The two headed snakes are allegedly use to find underground buried treasures. The two headed snake is truly amazing
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Comments
rigersroma on August 08, 2014:
i have one rare fossil of snake with two heads, i sell who is interested can contact rigersroma@gmail.com
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on August 10, 2012:
micheal jeckson :) Thanks. Glad you like it.
micheal jeckson on July 29, 2012:
love ur hub like the photos and info because i found a two headed snake myself
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on February 16, 2012:
Snakezilla ~ One is lonely, two is company, three's a crowd but if two heads are better than one, with you that would be 3 times more fun. Thanks for sssssnaking by :)
Snakezilla on February 16, 2012:
AWWWWWEEESSSSSOOOOOMMMMMMEEEEE......I wanna have a snake with two heads now.
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on October 29, 2011:
Shawn Scarborough ~ Thank you. And I also look forward to reading your hubs with special attention to your mousse recipes. :)
Shawn Scarborough from The Lone Star State on October 29, 2011:
This is a very interesting hub. You are an excellent writer, I look forward to reading your other hubs as well.
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on October 27, 2011:
josie ~ Life sometime throws a curve ball :) They are like people who are social outcast, we call them freaks yet we take a perverse delight in staring at them.
josie on October 27, 2011:
poor things god bless them plus thy are so ugly
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on September 09, 2011:
nighthag ~ Thank you for passing by.Human fascination and aversion to snake is understandable.No one likes getting bitten by a snake.I would rather have my neck nibbled by one of your lovely vampires in your articles while having an enjoyable read.:)
K.A.E Grove from Australia on September 08, 2011:
Wonderful hub thanks for the great read full of interesting facts
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on September 07, 2011:
Gypsy Willow ~ Thank you for your appreciation.If you enjoy fossil hunting,an article I wrote might be of interest to you.It's the story of Mary Anning whom some consider the greatest fossil hunter.She lived during England's Victorian age when there was great disparity of rights between male and female.Yet she managed to outshine her colleagues in a field of study considered a man's domain. Overcoming prejudicial attitudes and struggling to earn equality and respect.
https://discover.hubpages.com/literature/greatest-...
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on September 07, 2011:
Mark Bronze ~ Thank you for your comment.Glad you found it informative.I sometimes wonder if the two headed snake suffer from neurological dysfunction or has a schizophrenic personality just like people:)As for humans the only time two heads are better than one is when they kiss :))
Gypsy Willow from Lake Tahoe Nevada USA , Wales UK and Taupo New Zealand on September 07, 2011:
Excellent hub. I have a love hate relationship with snakes, beautiful and fascinating also scary and creepy!A life long fossil hunter, I enjoyed the picture of the fossil two headed serpent
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on August 21, 2011:
carcro ~ Thanks for the visit and comment.People are fascinated by snakes but they are often misunderstood.To some they are a species of villainy as depicted in stories like the Bible's story of creation or in sayings like "snake in the grass". Yet in some cultures they are considered good omens and symbols.In the Chinese art of "Ming Shu"(astrology)it is the sign of wisdom for those born under it's year.It's presence in the foundations of dwellings a sign of wealth if one knows how to "name" it and it does not show itself.
Paul Cronin from Winnipeg on August 20, 2011:
This is an awesome hub, amazing pics and great information. Like you noted, we are always facinated by snakes and your hub on the two headed variety is second to none.
Thanks for sharing!
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on August 02, 2011:
louisxfourie ~ Thank you for dropping by.Without the video and photos I would have had to use more words to complete this hub.And Better to be stunned by the pictures than by snakes :)
Louis Fourie from Fouriesburg, South Africa on August 02, 2011:
This photographs are stanning, love your hub, very interesting.
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on July 21, 2011:
ExoticHippieQueen ~ Thanks.It should be a Yuck! and Yikes! since there are two heads ;) Glad to have provided some interesting info.
ExoticHippieQueen on July 20, 2011:
While it's disgusting, it's also very interesting. Very bizarre! Thanks for this weird information. Yuck! Voted up and interesting!
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on July 18, 2011:
50 Caliber ~ Maybe under or around some of your mesquite trees? Supposedly they make good pets but I wouldn't know if your dogs would be agreeable to that.:) If you find one, instead of donating it to some dusty old museum why not to Washington DC where they would feel at home with "Big Chief who speak with forked tongue" :) Thanks Dusty for the visit.
50 Caliber from Arizona on July 18, 2011:
A unique article, I enjoyed it much, now to find and catch one to donate to the Arizona desert museum, 50
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on July 17, 2011:
Nell Rose ~ Hi,Thanks for the read and your comments.If I recall you have several articles about people born with some physical defects.I just can't begin to imagine how difficult their lives must have been.To be look on as a freak or oddity.
Nell Rose from Buckinghamshire UK on July 17, 2011:
Hi, fascinating and amazing hub, I have seen one or two before, but knew nothing about why they get like it, or how they interact, rated up! cheers nell
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on July 17, 2011:
prasetio30 ~ Thank you my friend.I'm glad you enjoyed the video and pictures.The video was what got me interested in researching about the two headed snake.
prasetio30 from malang-indonesia on July 17, 2011:
I had never knew about this snake. It looks so unique. But I still afraid to touch this animal. But thanks for writing and share with us. Well done, my friend. I really enjoy all pictures and video here. Vote it up!
Prasetio
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on July 16, 2011:
Baileybear ~ I hope your husband is knowledgeable about keeping exotic animals for pets.
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on July 16, 2011:
MartieCoestser ~Hello and thanks for the read. The videos are certainly better to watch than the evening news :) ...especially about the two legged kind of snakes that make life miserable for ordinary folks.:))
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on July 16, 2011:
WillStarr ~ Thanks and certainly they do not pose a threat unlike some politicians :) Love your hubs about political views and opinions.
SilentReed (author) from Philippines on July 16, 2011:
Alaster Packer ~ Love the Pun ;) I found the subject interesting for the reason that this is one of the rare times that it is better to keep creatures in captivity to protect them from mother nature.But on hindsight perhaps this is nature's way of weeding out imperfection....now if we could only find a way for politicians :)
Baileybear on July 16, 2011:
My hubby has just adopted a pet snake. We saw a two-headed snake and a two-headed turtle at a reptile show
Martie Coetser from South Africa on July 16, 2011:
Thanks for this most interesting hub about two-headed snakes, SilentReed. The videos are amazing!
WillStarr from Phoenix, Arizona on July 16, 2011:
Interesting Hub, and voted that way.
Alaster Packer on July 16, 2011:
Out-standing article SilentReed. Unique and very well put together(no pun) The pic of the double eating is killer. From the fossil on down fascinating. The albino Cali King must be exceedingly rare. And yes, the illegal market in snakes and other reptiles along with other reasons is pushing many to extinction.
